In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Some moments that I've had
Some moments of pleasure
I think about us lying
Lying on a beach somewhere
I think about us diving
Diving off a rock, into another moment
The case of George the Wipe
Oh God I can't stop laughing
This sense of humour of mine
It isn't funny at all
Oh but we sit up all night
Talking about it
Just being alive
It can really hurt
And these moments given
Are a gift from time
On a balcony in New York
It's just started to snow
He meets us at the lift
Like Douglas Fairbanks
Waving his walking stick
But he isn't well at all
The buildings of New York
Look just like mountains through the snow
Just being alive
It can really hurt
And these moments given
Are a gift from time
Just let us try
To give these moments back
To those we love
To those who will survive
And I can hear my mother saying
"Every old sock meets an old shoe"
Isn't that a great saying?
"Every old sock meets an old shoe"
Here come the Hills of Time
Hey there Maureen,
Hey there Bubba,
Dancing down the aisle of a plane,
'S Murph, playing his guitar refrain,
Hey there Teddy,
Spinning in the chair at Abbey Road,
Hey there Michael,
Do you really love me?
Hey there Bill,
Could you turn the lights up?
Some moments of pleasure
I think about us lying
Lying on a beach somewhere
I think about us diving
Diving off a rock, into another moment
The case of George the Wipe
Oh God I can't stop laughing
This sense of humour of mine
It isn't funny at all
Oh but we sit up all night
Talking about it
Just being alive
It can really hurt
And these moments given
Are a gift from time
On a balcony in New York
It's just started to snow
He meets us at the lift
Like Douglas Fairbanks
Waving his walking stick
But he isn't well at all
The buildings of New York
Look just like mountains through the snow
Just being alive
It can really hurt
And these moments given
Are a gift from time
Just let us try
To give these moments back
To those we love
To those who will survive
And I can hear my mother saying
"Every old sock meets an old shoe"
Isn't that a great saying?
"Every old sock meets an old shoe"
Here come the Hills of Time
Hey there Maureen,
Hey there Bubba,
Dancing down the aisle of a plane,
'S Murph, playing his guitar refrain,
Hey there Teddy,
Spinning in the chair at Abbey Road,
Hey there Michael,
Do you really love me?
Hey there Bill,
Could you turn the lights up?
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Moments Of Pleasure Lyrics as written by Kate Bush
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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What beautiful words...
@Delichon well said. Great tribute to a timeless song.
@Delichon Thank you so much, I am a Taiwanese, and I loved this song since my boyhood, but never knows why. "Till today, i searched the meaning of the song. your comment is soul-touching, big thanks & a big hug ~
I can offer some facts:
One of the departed Kate refers to in her song is Alan Murphy, the late guitarist for the band Level 42. He passed in 1989 from pneumonia secondary to AIDS, but not before he worked with Kate on three of her albums.
These are her lyrics that refer to Alan Murphy from Level 42:
"He meets us at the lift Like Douglas Fairbanks Waving his walking stick But he isn't well at all"
and...
"'S Murph, playing his guitar refrain,"
I believe if you do a search for images of a young Douglas Fairbanks and compare them to images of Alan Murphy you'll see an amazing resemblance.
Patrick
@PD5RRT Thank you for this. Very interesting and moving.
@PD5RRT The lyric that references Douglas Fairbanks is about Michael Powell, co-creator with Emeric Pressburger of the 1948 film 'The Red Shoes', from which the album takes it's name.<br /> <br /> She met Michael Powell in New York in 1990 shortly before his death from cancer.<br /> Kate has confirmed this in at least one interview. <br /> There's a reference to the meeting here: katebushencyclopedia.com/powell-michael
Delichon, i don't think i have ever been moved to tears as instantly as you have just been able to move me. Thankyou.
Skylar you are after my own heart, I too was moved to weep upon reading Delichon's words
I think Delichon hit the nail on the head. Its simply one of the most moving songs I've ever heard. Thank you Kate Bush.
This is my favorite song of all time. I don't think any other piece of music has come this close to describing life's little journey so well. I know it's more of an 'end of life' song, but to me it just as easily evokes the sweetness and sadness of life as it goes on. There's optimism in there as well... A reminder that each sad or happy moment is transitory and all make up the experience and all are vital for fulfillment. Loss is just as important as joy to gain a greater understanding.
@lateleigh What a wise comment! Thank you, sir.
This song has the most moving and sumptuous string arrangements ever recorded. Kate Bush is pure genious
One of the only songs that is dangerous for me to listen to when I am sad. I'll cry and cry. Sheesh.
Me too. This song always makes me cry....whether I'm sad or not.
written after her mother's death it's reflecting about all the people she has lost in her life, saying that every moment is precious
According to Wikipedia, it was written when her mother was still alive and her mother thought the part where she quotes her was hilarious.